Elisabeth Keen
Today, the group and I went to a neighborhood of houses owned by an orginization called homestretch. They give homes to homeless families. Recently, 7 families just moved out so they were getting them ready for the next people. We helped with 2 of those homes. Me and Lindsey taped and painted walls. Ben and Brandon cleaned the bathroom and Matt, Nancy, and Bob cleaned the kitchen. The family that is going to move in is a single mom with her kids. She lost everything after a nasty divorce. Sadly, we will never meet them but I hope that the little we did helped. After we went to the King center and learned about Martin Luther King Jr. It was very interesting. We also saw his tomb and the house he was born in. It was a good day.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday
Bob Here on Monday evening
Today our group (Nancy, Bob, Ben, Matt, Elizabeth, Brandon, & Lindsey) worked at a St. Vincent DePaul Thirft Store. It was a short ride out of downtown to the store. We worked there for over 5 hours and did pretty much everything. As the store manager told us: If it isn't on the floor, it isn't making money! Some of us sorted and tagged incoming donations. Others organized the racks and pulled some of the older clothes out that haven't sold and made room for the newer items. We worked together with the store's regular volunteers, who were very happy to have us there helping them out.
The other group (Thea, John, Bruce, David, Kacie, Gabe, and Steven) worked at Emmaus Center, a cummunity center not far from where we're staying. They walked to the worksite. First they had a Peoplestown neighborhood tour and cleaned up an immense amount of trash an litter. Then they played The Game of Life, a poverty simulation game (David couldn't get out of the homeless shelter and Steven was a millionaire, compared to everyone else.) After lunch, they trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, and cleaned up the property. After that they joined the children at their youth center and played games and read together.
Our devotions tonight were from Isaiah 61 and Luke 4 about the year of Jubilee. We discussed how we can free the oppressed, bring sight to the blind, and set the prisoner free.
It might be hot outside, but it's amazingly frigid in the AC'd gym-that's-not-a-gym where we're staying (it's our dining room and our bedroom). We didn't bring enough warm clothes.
Today our group (Nancy, Bob, Ben, Matt, Elizabeth, Brandon, & Lindsey) worked at a St. Vincent DePaul Thirft Store. It was a short ride out of downtown to the store. We worked there for over 5 hours and did pretty much everything. As the store manager told us: If it isn't on the floor, it isn't making money! Some of us sorted and tagged incoming donations. Others organized the racks and pulled some of the older clothes out that haven't sold and made room for the newer items. We worked together with the store's regular volunteers, who were very happy to have us there helping them out.
The other group (Thea, John, Bruce, David, Kacie, Gabe, and Steven) worked at Emmaus Center, a cummunity center not far from where we're staying. They walked to the worksite. First they had a Peoplestown neighborhood tour and cleaned up an immense amount of trash an litter. Then they played The Game of Life, a poverty simulation game (David couldn't get out of the homeless shelter and Steven was a millionaire, compared to everyone else.) After lunch, they trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, and cleaned up the property. After that they joined the children at their youth center and played games and read together.
Our devotions tonight were from Isaiah 61 and Luke 4 about the year of Jubilee. We discussed how we can free the oppressed, bring sight to the blind, and set the prisoner free.
It might be hot outside, but it's amazingly frigid in the AC'd gym-that's-not-a-gym where we're staying (it's our dining room and our bedroom). We didn't bring enough warm clothes.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Well, we have arrived. We are staying at Central Presbyterian Church which was built in 1889. It has four floors with lots(!) of stairs. And we thought it was hard to navigate Eastern!!! We are staying on the 4th floor in a gymnasium with a railing bordering the top. Very cool!! We are here with 3 other groups from around the country which was a bit of a surprise to all of us. It's all good tho. Within the hour the groups were mingling in big circles playing cards. They are excited to get to know some kids from other churches. We have 5 showers total for 46 people so girls shower at night, boys in the morning. So far so good tho. We're all excite to begin tomorrow. I'm going to go find my earplugs. Good night!!
day 2
David-
we made it to atlanta. the ride from cincinatti took FOREVER. about half way through some random rain came while it was still sunny. every time we got out at a rest area it got progressively hotter. by the time we made it to tennessee it was atleast 90 degrees. we got unpacked and did some get-to-know-you activities. there are 3 other youth groups here with us. we are staying in a gym at the church that looks like the Quest Center at Christian High, but not as glamorous and 80 years older. tommorow is our first work day, we will divide into 2 groups. my group is going to Emmaus House to work with their programs. the other group is going to St. Vincent de Paul to help in the donation warehouse.
we made it to atlanta. the ride from cincinatti took FOREVER. about half way through some random rain came while it was still sunny. every time we got out at a rest area it got progressively hotter. by the time we made it to tennessee it was atleast 90 degrees. we got unpacked and did some get-to-know-you activities. there are 3 other youth groups here with us. we are staying in a gym at the church that looks like the Quest Center at Christian High, but not as glamorous and 80 years older. tommorow is our first work day, we will divide into 2 groups. my group is going to Emmaus House to work with their programs. the other group is going to St. Vincent de Paul to help in the donation warehouse.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
First day
After the mindless eating of delicious snack food and many cases of beautiful landscape we finally made it to the wonderful city of Cincinnati, the home of our 6th District Court. "Jim Dandy's" A BBQ restaurant was very scrumptious indeed with ribs and pulled pork sandwiches at the reach or your fingertips. after a long drive we finally make it to the hotel where we quickly noticed the pool, the water was very refreshing and the games were intense, I think it is time to call it a night.
Gabe D.H.
Pictures and longer stories and comments will be here. Shorter comments can be found on twitter here #elmission
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